It's Time to Make Fat Your Friend

By Olivia Janisch

Fat is essential for everything that happens in our bodies, the quality of which dictates the health of your body and mind.

Over the last few years, fat has been demonized. It’s been named the source of our health problems as a society and is associated with all kinds illnesses, and fuels our multi-million dollar diet industry. As a solution, a large majority of the population now seeks out non-fat or low-fat foods in order to help them keep their calorie count down for the day.

Many cautious consumers tend to misunderstand the important function fat plays in our bodies’ overall health. Thus, we avoid fat by eating foods labeled as fat-free or no calorie. Ironically, these pseudo-foods are injected with artificial additives to make up for lack of flavor that have serious side effects, including encouraging your body to gain weight.

Let’s get specific…

Not all fat is created equal

In brief:

Enjoy Omega-3s plentifully

Eat in moderation: Saturated fats from animals and omega-6s

Avoid like the plague: Trans fats (partially or fully hydrogenated ANYTHING)

Most people have heard about the dangers of trans fats, but to reiterate, make sure to read labels and never eat anything with partially hydrogenated ingredients. They are extremely harmful for your overall health, and although the FDA is making moves to get them off the market, they’re still around, so be sure to pay attention.

The reason certain fats are called ‘essential’ fatty acids is because we don’t make them naturally in our bodies, so we must get them from out diet. These are extremely important for a number of things ranging from healthy hair and skin, to metabolism regulation, to brain health.

Eat fat to look and feel your best

Healthy fats that come from nuts, avocados, flax, hemp seeds etc. should be included in every meal. Omega-3 fats will not make you gain weight and can actually aid in weight loss. This is possible due to the fact that they help you feel more satisfied after a meal, and more importantly, studies shows that they improve insulin sensitivity.

The way your body puts on weight, and does pretty much anything else in the body, is largely dependent on your hormones, which are greatly affected by the foods you eat. High quality, real fats are one of the best ways to stabilize and support hormone health, and to achieve and maintain a healthy and balanced weight. Avoiding synthetic ingredients and incorporating the right fats will help your hormones to thrive and support a vibrant and balanced system.

More reasons to eat lots of omega-3s:

• Maintains healthy and clear skin
• Promotes generation of neurotransmitters that protect us from anxiety, fatigue, depression, memory loss, and other neurochemical imbalances
• Regulate your immune system
• Enable proper cell communication throughout your body
• Supports heart health and circulation
• Reduce inflammation that precedes obesity and other illnesses

Eat food grown on a plant, don’t eat foods made in a plant

I harp on this all the time, but eating chemically injected foods that are ‘generally regarded as safe’ by the USDA just don’t cut it for a healthy lifestyle. They mess with your hormones, your brain, and your skin, and certainly won’t help you feel or look good.

If you’re looking for a healthy diet, it’s simple. I suggest eating things that are naturally low in calories – fruits and vegetables- and things that are naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids– nuts, avocados, olive oil, hemp seeds, flax and coconut oil. Feel free to enjoy wine, chocolate and coffee, but maintain whole foods high in fiber and nutrients as the core of your diet.